Improved component of a modular building

ABSTRACT

A building module including a ground floor and a first floor, the building module constructed from prefabricated metal components. Located beneath the first floor are at least a pair of channels adapted to be engaged by rotatable tines of a forklift that can engage the module. Once engaged the forklift can rotate the module so as to load the module onto a flatbed truck for transportation to the building location. This allows a lot of the manufacture of the building to be completed off-site leading to quicker construction of the building on site.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an assembly and transport of building modules that when joined together result in a modular building, typically a house.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Conventional houses are built in a well-known manner. A slab floor is constructed; vertical supports are added to support walls and a roof after which the house is completed by the provision of various utilities. The construction of such a house takes months to complete given that the building of the house is on site.

At times construction is halted as some works have to be completed before others can start and inclement weather can also cause a delay in building.

The object of this invention is to provide a building such as a house constructed using a number of individual building modules. These modules can be made off site to provide a ground and a first floor that can then be easily transported to the construction site where they can be coupled together relatively quickly to build a building in a fraction of time than current building methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the invention comprises a building module including a ground floor and a first floor, the building module constructed from prefabricated metal components wherein located beneath the first floor are at least a pair of channels adapted to be engaged by rotatable tines of a forklift that can engage the module and rotate it for placement on its side to be able to be loaded onto a flatbed truck for transportation to the desired location.

In preference the module is not wider than allowed by regulations dictating the transportation of goods on a flatbed truck across standard roads.

Preferably, the module includes vertical posts that support horizontal channels that themselves support joists for providing support thereof.

Preferably, each module is adapted to be attached to another module to thereby define a building such a house.

It should be noted that any one of the aspects mentioned above may include any of the features of any of the other aspects mentioned above and may include any of the features of any of the embodiments described below as appropriate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows.

FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of a modular house comprising of multiple modules.

FIG. 2 is a perfective view of a single module comprising a ground floor and a first floor.

FIG. 3 is the underside view of the module of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates the ability to move the module using a forklift.

FIG. 5 is loading the modular block onto a flatbed truck by rotating it onto its side.

FIG. 6 illustrates the underneath view of a modular house constructed using individual modules.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration.

Referring now to the drawings in detail there is shown a modular house 10 comprised of individual modules (building blocks) 12, 14, 16, as well as external components such as a balcony 18 and stairs 20. Each building block includes vertical posts 22, that using well known engineering means support joists 24 for a ground floor and first floor as well as various supporting beams 26, and reinforcing members 28. Located underneath the first floor are channels 30 which are adapted to accommodate forklift tines 32. Thus when a modular block as illustrated in FIG. 2 is assembled together, a forklift 34 can engage the channels 30 to lift up the modular building block such as 12.

The forklift has a rotatable head which allows the building module to be rotated, so that as illustrated in FIG. 5 it can then be positioned on the flatbed truck 36.

This has the advantage that a single module comprising of a ground and first floor can be loaded onto a truck by rotating it to lie on its side on the truck. By virtue of the channels being located under the first floor the module is somewhat balanced when being loaded onto a truck on its side. It can then be transported to the desired location.

Once the blocks are transported to a site they can then be easily assembled into a modular building or house such as illustrated in FIG. 1 where it can then be cladded, a roof added on and utilities connected to the modular building resulting in a construction time that is a lot faster than current building methods.

The important thing to note is that the channels 30 are located roughly where the centre of mass is located for the modular building block so that it can be easily rotated and still be balanced. Thus, in some cases if it is not a house that is being constructed but rather a smaller storage space, they may possess several floors, provided that the channels are located in a position whereby it is close to the centre of mass, this invention may also be used to enable the block to the loaded onto a semi-trailer truck on its side, thus overcoming issues of height. Now depending on the height of each building block, it may be possible to load several building modules on a flatbed semi-trailer for transport to the desired location.

The other parts of the modular building would be well known in the art such as appropriate metal fabrication that allows the building to become sturdy. The vertical posts 22 may be positioned to sit on the ground if there are appropriate foot plates (not shown) or there may be of sufficient length to be embedded in concrete foundations.

The reader will now appreciate the present invention which provides for easy transport of a modular building block to be used in the construction of a building.

LIST OF COMPONENTS

The drawings include the following integers.

-   10 Modular house -   12 First module -   14 Second module -   16 Third module -   18 Balcony -   20 Stairs -   22 Vertical posts -   24 Support joist -   26 Supporting beams -   28 Reinforcing members -   30 Floor channels

Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in this field.

In the present specification and claims (if any), the word “comprising” and its derivatives including “comprises” and “comprise” include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers. 

1. A building module including a ground floor and a first floor, the building module constructed from prefabricated metal components wherein located beneath the first floor are at least a pair of channels adapted to be engaged by rotatable tines of a forklift that can engage the module and rotate it for placement on its side to be able to be loaded onto a flatbed truck for transportation to the desired location.
 2. The building module of claim 1 being of a width substantially smaller than its height.
 3. The building module as in claim 1 including vertical posts that support horizontal channels that themselves support joists for providing support for the ground and first floors.
 4. The building module as in claim 1 wherein multiple building modules can be joined together to form a building. 